Soldier who disappeared during parachute training exercise in Washington state found dead

SHELTON, Wash. – The Army says a soldier who vanished during a parachute training operation in Washington state has been found dead after a 10-hour search.

Maj. Timothy C. Chavis, a 1st Special Forces Group spokesman, says a local rescue team helping in the search discovered the soldier's body around 10 p.m. Friday in a heavily wooded area of Mason County.

He says the soldier was part of the special forces unit based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord who jumped from a plane at noon with other service members.

Chavis says he believes the training was a common exercise but that he can't release other information until the end of an investigation.

The soldier will not be identified until a day after family members are notified.